Wasyluka



Feb. 21, 1956 P. WASYLUKA NESTABLE CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 50, 1953 INVENTOR.

WA SYLAUKA Feb. 21, 1956 P. WASYLUKA NESTABLE CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1953 FIG I8.

JNVENTOR.

FIG. l6.

WASYLUKA FIG. [0.

Ivan/5y Feb. 21, 1956 P. WASYLUKA 2,735,607

NESTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 30, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m L -1 I "I| 5 2 01:0 &

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INVENTOR.

PAUL WASYLUKA iITaAM E/ United States Patent NESTABLE CONTAINERS Paul Wasyluka, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Gaylord Container Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Maryland Application January 30, 1953, Serial No. 334,189

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) This invention relates to open-top containers adapted to vertical stacking or nesting which provides a free space between the contents of each container and the nested bottom of a superimposed container.

The container comprises opposed side and end Walls forming the body section and a protruding nestable bottom section adapted to be inserted snugly into the open upper end of a subjacent container. The walls of the bottom section are offset inwardly with respect to the body walls, thereby preventing shifting of the containers in any direction when they are nested in a vertical stack.

The container is preferably rectangular in shape, comprising interconnected, opposed outer side walls and outer end walls and a bottom panel. Each outer wall has a marginal flange on its lower end, folded inwardly into flatwise relation to the inner face of the wall and secured thereto. The folded lower edge of the outer walls thus formed provides a peripheral ledge adapted to seat On the upper end edges of the body walls of a nested, subjacent container. Each outer wall has a marginal flap integral with its upper edge folded inwardly and downwardly, forming inner walls in parallel relation to the outer walls and extending downwardly below the plane of the beforementioned ledge, formed by the folded flanges at the lower edges of the outer walls.

The bottom panel is attached to the inner walls in substantially right angular relation and is positioned in a horizontal plane spaced below and parallel to the plane of the peripheral ledge at the lower edges of the outer walls. The portion of the inner walls extending below the plane of the hereinbefore described peripheral ledge and the bottom panel attached thereto, form a protruding bottom section adapted to be inserted into the open end of a subjacent container until the peripheral ledge rests on the top edge of the subjacent container. The dimen sion of each side edge of the bottom panel may be and preferably is somewhat less than the corresponding dimension of the inner wall, so that the portion of each of the inner walls which extends below the plane of the outer wall ledge may be drawn inwardly at a slight angle to the vertical plane of the outer walls, e. g., at an angle less than about The protruding bottom section of the container thus has side walls which may slope inwardly very slightly to facilitate the snug nesting of the bottom section into the open end of a similar subjacent container.

In a preferred form of the invention the bottom section is formed from a separate blank, comprising a bottom panel having flanges on each side edge folded upwardly at substantially right angles thereto. The folded flanges are interposed between the inner walls and the rebent flanges at the lower end of the outer walls. The length of the bottom panel flanges and of the portion of the inner walls extending below the level of the outer wall ledge are so proportioned that when the bottom panel flanges are interposed as described and the free end edges of the inner wall rest on the bottom panel, there will be formed the hereinbefore-mentioned protruding bottom section with the bottom panel in a plane spaced appreciably below and substantially parallel to the plane of the peripheral ledge and with the free ends of the bottom panel flanges extending upwardly to about the level of the free ends of the rebent outer wall flanges. The outer walls and their rebent flanges, the inner walls and the interposed bottom panel flanges are permanently secured in the described position by staples extending through the four plies or by other suitable means.

In a variation of the hereinbefore described form of the invention the container is formed from a single blank. In this style, the outer walls are provided with flanges on the bottom edges folded inwardly and upwardly to form a peripheral ledge as hereinbefore described. The bottom panel is integral with the lower end of the inner walls and, with the portions of the inner walls which extend below the plane of the peripheral ledge, forms a protruding bottom section with sides slightly inwardly inclined, all as substantially as hereinbefore described in connection with the two-piece construction of the invention. The structure is secured in assembled form by staples through the outer and inner walls and the rebent outer wall flanges interposed therebetween.

The present invention therefore is embodied in an open top container, comprising interconnected opposed pairs of outer side and end walls and a protruding bottom section oifset inwardly with respect to the outer walls. The outer walls of the container have integral flanges at their lower ends folded in flatwise relation to the inner faces of the walls and upper marginal flaps folded inwardly and downwardly parallel to the outer Walls and extending appreciably below the level of the folds formed at the bottom edges of the outer walls, the protruding bottom section being adapted to be inserted or nested in the open end of a similar container with the fold at the lower edges at the outer walls seated on the upper ends of the walls of the subjacent container.

The container is suitable for carrying, storing and transporting a wide variety of articles. It is particularly adapted to pack square milk bottles and other articles of a substantially uniform shape. For this purpose, the depth of the container is regulated to provide a free space between the tops of the articles and the bottom panel of a similar superimposed container, so that the articles are amply protected from damage in stacked tiers of containers. It is also adapted for packing berries, fruits and fresh vegetables, bakery products, for use as a tote box from field to loading line and many other purposes.

In many instances it is desirable to have a handhole in opposed Walls for convenience when lifting and handling the loaded container. Since the container for square bottles and similarly shaped articles is dimensioned so that the articles will fit snugly flatwise against the inner walls and against each other, it is not possible to grasp the container by inserting the hand through the well-known, conventional-style handhole. To overcome this problem, a specially designed handhole may be provided wherein the opening in the inner wall is offset upwardly with respect to the opening in the outer wall and a flap is hinged to the upper edge of each of the handholes. Each flap is folded upwardly between the inner and outer walls in juxtaposed relation to each other. This construction provides a firm finger grip for lifting and handling the containers when loaded with articles snugly fitting the inner walls of the container which prevent inserting the hands entirely through the open mgs.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a container with a protruding bottom section adapted to snugly nest into the open end of a similar subjacent container with a clearance between the bottom panel thereof and the contents of the subjacent container whereby a plurality of the containers may be safely stacked in vertical tiers with the top load borne exclusively on the side walls of the containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nestable container adapted to packaging square paperboard milk bottles and similarly-shaped articles which may be stacked safely in vertical tiers for storage and transportation in trucks and railway cars, the end walls of the container being provided with handholes for grasping and lifting the container.

A further object is to provide a container for storage and shipment of all kinds of berries in the conventional pint or quart baskets and other fruits and fresh vegetables, the container being adapted to stacking in nested form in vertical tiers with the top load borne exclusively on the container walls.

A still further object is to provide a container with a protruding bottom section for nesting into the open end of a subjacent similarly shaped container whereby the contents of all of the containers in a vertical stack may be fully protected from dirt or other sources of contamination by a cover on the topmost container, the bottom panel of each container providing an effective cover for the contents of each subjacent container.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings and set forth in the claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions and details of construction within the scope of the claims may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any advantages thereof.

In the drawings which form part of the specification, like numerals and symbols therein appearing refer to like parts wherever they occur:

Fig. l is a plan view of the blank for forming the inner and outer walls of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank forming the portrud ing bottom section of the container;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container fully assembled from the component elements illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the container taken along lines 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the container taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the bottom section and the lower portion of the outer walls of the container constructed of solid fibreboard showing the bottom section nested into the open end of a similar subjacent container with the folded lower end of the outer wall seated on the folded top wall of the lower container;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 6 of the lower portion of the outer walls and bottom section of the container made of double-faced corrugated board;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of a bottom corner construction of the container shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the outside of a bottom corner construction of the container shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 3 taken along the lines 1010;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a blank for forming a modified style of the container wherein slots are provided in the upper ends of a pair of opposed walls for inserting a cover securing flap;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of two of the containers assembled from blanks shown in Fig. 11 and positioned in nested relation;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the cover for one of the containers illustrated in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view along lines 14-14 of the uppermost container illustrated in Fig. 12 with a cover member attached thereto;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of the topmost container illustrated in Fig. 12 along lines 1515 with a cover member attached;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a single blank for forming the walls and bottom section of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the container assembled from the blank shown in Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 17 taken along the lines 18-18.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view of a corner of the container shown in Fig. 17 taken along the lines 1919.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the interior of a bottom corner of the container illustrated in Fig. 17.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is denoted at A in Fig. 3, assembled from the blanks shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the protruding bottom section, which is adapted to snugly fit into the open end of a similar container, being indicated at B.

The body blank of the container, shown in Fig. 1 has a longitudinal double score 1 which defines the lower ends of the outer side walls 2, outer end walls 3 and the marginal flanges 4. Transverse scores 5 define the interconnected vertical side edges of outer side walls 2 and outer end walls 3. Vertical score 6 defines the inner edge of sealing flap 7. Longitudinal double score In defines the top edges of side walls 1 and 2 and end walls 3 and 4 and the inner edges of marginal outer side wall flaps 8 and 9 and the outer end wall flaps 10 and 11. Slots 12, 13 and 14 extending upwardly from the double score In, tapered slightly outwardly, define the side edges of marginal flaps 8, 9, 10 and 11. U-shaped slits 15 in the outer end walls 3 provide a handhole opening with handhole flaps 16 hinged at scores 17. Similar U-shaped slits 18 in flaps 10 and 11 form handholes with flaps 19 hinged at the scores 20. The handholes in flaps 10 and 11 are offset slightly toward double score In, with respect to the handholes in the outer walls 3 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Slots 21 define the side edges of flanges 4 which are hinged to the lower edges of the outer walls 1, 2, 3 and 4. The inner ends 22 of slots 21 and the inner ends 23 of slots 12, 13 and 14 are extended angularly into double scores 1 and 1a respectively to provide folding clearance for flanges 4 and flaps 8, 9, 10 and 11 respectively.

The bottom section blank shown in Fig. 2 has longitudinal scores 24 and vertical scores 25 which define the fiat bottom panel 26. Scores 24 also define the inner margin of bottom flanges 27 and 28 while scores 25 define the inner margin of flanges 29 and 30. The side edges of the bottom section flanges are tapered as at 31 and the intersections of scores 24 and 25 may be cut out if desired as shown at 32 to provide an opening 46 for drainage in the assembled container.

The container may be assembled in any convenient way, a preferred method being to fold the flanges 4 inwardly against the inner face of the walls 2 and 3 forming a folded bottom edge or abutment 33, best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. After the flanges 4 are attached, the blank is folded into rectangular form and the sealing flap 7 is attached to the side edge of the remote outer end wall 3. The upper marginal flaps 8, 9, 10, 11 are folded inwardly and downwardly parallel to their respective outer walls, forming inner body walls. The handhole flaps 16 of the outer walls 3 and 19 of the inner walls 10 and 11 are folded inwardly and upwardly in juxtaposed relation to each other as shown in Fig. 4, the told 42 of the inner wall flap being offset upwardly in relation to the fold 43 of the outer wall flap. The

length of the flaps 8, 9, 10 and 11 forming the inner walls is greater than the length of the outer walls from which they depend, so that free end edges 40 thereof extend below the lower end of the outer walls formed by the folds 33 of flanges 4, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The bottom section flanges 27, 28, 29 and 30 are folded upwardly into substantially right angular relation to the bottom panel 26 and interposed between the folded outer wall flanges 4 and the lower portions of the inner walls 8, 9, 10 and 11. The length of the bottom section flanges is such that when interposed as described, the free end edges thereof 34, 35, 36 and 37 will extend to approximately the height of the free end edges 38 of the outer side wall flanges 4 and there will be an exposed portion 39 of the bottom section flanges extending below the fold 33 at the lower ends of outer walls 2 and 3 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The length of the outer Wall upper marginal flaps 8, 9, 10 and 11, forming the inner walls of the container, is proportioned so that with the bottom section positioned as hereinbefore described the free end edges 40 of the flaps will abut the inner face of the flat bottom panel 26, see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. The dimensions of the sides of the bottom panel 26 are preferably slightly less than the corresponding dimensions of the outer walls, so that when the bottom section is interposed between the outer wall flanges 4 and the inner walls 3, 9, 10 and 11, the lower portion of the inner walls and the bottom section flanges will be drawn slightly inwardly as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. This relation is for the purpose of facilitating the nesting of the bottom section of the container into the open end of a similar or counterpart container. When the bottom section flanges are interposed between the outer wall flanges and the lower portions of the inner walls, seating on the inner face of the bottom panel 26 as hereinbefore described, the several elements are secured together by staples 41 and the assembly of the container is completed.

Where the containers are intended for packaging bottles of milk, beverages and the like wherein there is a hazard of the liquid being spilled, it is desirable to provide reverse scores 24 and 25 on the bottom section of the container, so that in the folded position of the bottom panel flanges, bulbs 44 as shown in Fig. 6, will be formed at the junction of the panel 26 and the flanges on which the free end edge 40 of the inner walls rest. This construction provides a free space 45 (Fig. below the end edges of the inner walls on which liquid may accumulate and drain through the openings 46 (Fig. 3) at the bottom corners of the container without exposing the inner walls to the weakening effect of absorption of liquid by capillarity through their free lower end edges.

The nesting of the bottom section of the container into the open end of a similar container is shown in the vertical cross sectional view of Fig. 6. The folded lower edge of the outer wall 33 seats on the folded upper edge 47 of the subjacent container with the exposed portion 39 of the bottom section flanges extending downwardly into the subjacent container in close proximity to the inner walls thereof. From this it will be seen that the entire weight of the superimposed container or containers is borne on the folded upper edges of the lower container or containers.

For the purpose of packaging square paperboard milk bottles and similar articles susceptible to damage, the height of the walls of the container is so proportioned that a free space will be provided between the tops of the articles and the outer face of the bottom panel 26 in the nested position as shown in Fig. 6. The construction of the handhole, best shown in Fig. 4, provides a finger grip for lifting and handling the containers packed with square articles such as paper milk bottles and the like, since such articles will be in flush relation to the interior of the wall and prevent insertion of the hands through the handholes.

The container may be constructed of corrugated paperboard if desired, the relation of the parts forming the bottom section and the adjacent walls of the container being shown in the vertical sectional view of Fig. 7. A perspective view of the interior of the bottom corner of the assembled container is shown in Fig. 8 and a similar view of the exterior of the bottom corner of the assembled container in Fig. 9, while Fig. 10 is a plan view of a bottom corner.

A modified style of the container especially adapted for storing and shipping berries, fruits and vegetables and the like is shown in the perspective view in Fig. 12 where in two of the modified containers nest one upon the other. The protruding bottom section and walls are identical with the container hereinbefore described, the walls of the container, however, are appreciably reduced in height to provide only a clearance between a single row of packages of berries or the contents of other fruits and vegetables and the outer face of the bottom panel 26 of the superimposed container. For fruits and vegetables, ventilation openings 48 are proivded in the walls and for the protection of the contents of the top-most container a cover, shown in Fig. 13, is provided. The cover consists of a cover panel 50 with end tabs 51 foldable about scores 52. Slots 53 are cut preferably in the folds in the upper edge of the end wall 3 and the marginal flaps 10 and 11 into which the cover flaps 51 are inserted to close the uppermost container in a stacked tier. The cover is necessary only for the topmost container in the stack since the contents of the remaining containers in the stack are fully protected by the nested bottom sections. The blank from which the container illustrated in Fig. 12 is formed is shown in Fig. 11. This blank is essentially the same as the blank of Fig. 1 except the handholes may be omitted and the slots 53 placed as shown in the fold of the outer walls 3 and the inner walls 10 and 11. Vertical cross sections of the container with the cover attached are shown in Figs. 14 and 15, taken along lines 1414 and lines 15-15 respectively of Fig. 12. The container illustrated in Fig. 3 may also be provided with the hereinbefore described cover if desired.

The invention may be embodied in a container, shown in perspective in Fig. 17, made from a single blank, illustrated in Fig. 16. The blank is scored at 60 and 61 to define the bottom panel 62 and the bottom edges of the inner end walls 63 and the inner side walls 64 of the container. Double scores 65 define the upper ends of the inner end walls 63 and the upper ends of the outer end walls 66, while double scores 67 define the upper ends of the inner side wall 64 and the upper ends of the outer side wall 68. Double scores 69 define the inner edges of flanges 70 on the lower ends of the outer end walls 66 and double scores 71 identify flanges 72 on the lower ends of the outer side wall 68. The inner edges of securing flanges 73 on the side edges of the inner side wall 64 are defined by continuations of score 6t). Handholes 74 are cut in the upper portions of the inner and outer end walls 63 and 66.

The one piece container may be conveniently assembled by folding the flanges 70 and 72 on the outer end and side walls respectively in flatwise relation to the inner faces thereof and securing them in this position by staples 75. The outer end walls 66 and the outer side walls 68 are reversely folded about scores 65 and 67 respectively into parallel relation with the inner walls 63 and 64. The end walls 63 and 66 are then folded upwardly about score 60 into substantially right angular relation to bottom panel 62 and side walls 64 and 68 are likewise folded into substantially right angular relation to bottom panel 64 about score 61 and the securing flanges 73 are inserted between the inner and outer end walls 63 and 66 and secured thereto by staples 76. This completes the assembly of the container.

.in Fig. 18.

A vertical cross sectional view of the assembled container taken along lines 1818 of Fig. 17 is illustrated It will be noted that the side of the protruding bottom section is formed by the lower portion 77 of the inner side wall 64, the fiat bottom panel 62 being integral therewith. The fold of flanges 70 and 72 at the lower edge of the outer walls 66 and 68 respectively forms a supporting ledge 78 which, in a nested relation of the container in the open end of a similar container, seats on the upper folded edges 79 of the walls of the subjacent container. A vertical sectional view of a corner of the container is illustrated in Fig. 19 and a perspective view of the interior of a corner of the container is shown in Fig. 20. It will be observed that the novel nesting feature of this modified form of the invention is substantially identical with that hereinbefore described in connection with the two-piece embodiment. If desired, a cover may be provided for the container similar to the construction illustrated in Fig. 13 and slots provided in the upper edges of a pair of opposed walls similar to the slots shown in Fig. 12 of the drawing.

What I claim is:

1. A nestable paperboard container comprising connected together, vertically disposed inner and outer Wall structures and a bottom closing structure, the upper edge of the wall structures being defined by a fold which integrally joints the same, the bottom structure including a bottom panel and a depending converging continuation of the lower portion of the inner wall structure, a lower portion of the outer wall being reversely folded and forming an abutment, which abutment faces downwardly but spaced above the bottom panel and is fixedly disposed relative thereto, the said bottom face of said abutment lying in a plane which substantially traverses said converging continuation of the lower portion of the bottom wall structure, thus exposing a portion of the converging bottom wall structure below the said bottom face of the abutment for nesting same within the upper portion of a similarly formed container and for engagement of the abutment with the upper folded edge of the last mentioned container.

2. A paperboard container as defined in and by claim 1 wherein the fold defining the upper edge of the wall structure consists of a folded portion defined by parallel double scores in the paperboard, and the abutment at the lower portion of the outer wall is also defined by parallel double scores in the paperboard.

3. A paperboard container as defined in and by claim 1 wherein the bottom panel has an upstanding diverging wall structure, the lower portion of the inner wall terminating adjacent the bottom panel and in overlapping relationship with the upstanding wall structure, and means for fixedly securing the upstanding wall structure and the inner wall and the abutment together.

4. A paperboard container as defined in and by claim 1 wherein the converging continuation of the lower portion of the inner wall is integral with the inner wall and the bottom panel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 736,955 Garman Aug. 25, 1903 2,326,926 Bureau et al Aug. 17, 1943 2,567,832 Vadner Sept. 11, 1951 2,588,232 Grant Mar. 4, 1952 2,597,845 Reeser May 27, 1952 

